There is a need for every woman to own a pearl ring once in her life time. The simple feminine elegance of the pearl is basically a woman's right to possess. Choosing the right kind of pearl for your ring may be a difficult task. This article intends to assist you in purchasing your dream pearl ring.

Pearls rings are worn and given in different occasions. Rarely, these are used as birthstone engagement ring. Pearl is the birthstone of the month of June. One might think that a pearl is less costly than a diamond, it is true. However, pearls are more difficult to set and usually come with diamonds and other gemstones, so they actually turn out to be more expensive.

There is a vast range of pearls to choose from. Pearls are categorized into the following:

Black Tahitian Pearls, Button Pearls, Coin Pearls, Cultured Pearls, Freshwater Pearls, and. Natural Pearls or South Sea Pearls.

Your pearl ring will also have to be set in gold, silver, white gold or platinum and in designs that you prefer. You may give additional accent to the ring by combining the setting with diamonds or semi-precious stones. The craftsmanship will define the beauty of your ring, so take extra care in choosing the design. Jewelers offer a variety of designs to choose from that brings out the uniqueness in you.

The perfect pearl should be carefully considered based on several characteristics. A good pearl should have good luster, being bright and not dull. The pearl's surface should show your reflection. If its too white or dull or chalky in appearance, it indicated low quality.

In terms of its surface, it should be free of bumps, cracks and spots. The value increases as its surface is cleaner. Cultured pearls from oysters usually produce imperfectly round shapes. However, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable. The asymmetrical shapes of Baroque pearls are less costly but exhibit a lustrous appeal.

The color of pearls comes in varying colors. You can find white, gold, cream, blue, green, rose and black pearls. Some pearl producers even offer rainbow, iridescent pearls which are so rare and valuable. Pink-hued white pearls are considered one of the most expensive. White, silver and rose pearls look great on people with fair skin. Dark skin is flattered, on the other hand, by cream and gold pearls.

The size of cultured pearls is measured in millimeters by the diameter. Seed pearls may be as small as one millimeter while a South Sea pearl could be as big as 20 millimeters. The average pearl ranges from 7-7.5 millimeters. The bigger the pearl, the more valuable it would be. Natural pearls, however, are measured in carats.

The origin of the pearl is also of great importance. Natural and cultured pearls come from oysters. Natural pearls occur accidentally in oysters while cultured pearls are grown by man in oysters. Whether it is natural or cultured can be determined by a skilled jeweler or by using an X-ray machine. Natural pearls are more valuable than cultured pearls since they are rarer. Man-made imitation pearls are of no value.

Natural and cultured pearls may be from freshwater or saltwater. Saltwater pearls are more costly, the most costly coming from Akoya, Japan and Tahiti.

The nacre is the substance that the oyster or mollusk deposits on the irritant or foreign material that enters its shell. The thickness of the nacre will determine the value of the pearl. The thicker the nacre, the more valuable it is.

When buying a pearl ring, you should consider the following tips. Avoid pearls with blemishes and cracks. A consistent luster throughout the pearl indicates good quality. Beeswax is often used by jewelers to treat pearls but may affect the luster, so ask your jeweler about it.

Also consider the thickness of the nacre, you could ask your jeweler about it. When you rub the pearl against your tooth, it must have a rough feel and not a smooth feel indicating that it is imitation pearl. Ask for an x-ray result if you opt for a natural pearl to ensure that it is, in fact, natural and not cultured.

Knowing all the qualities of a good quality pearl, you are now ready to find that perfect pearl that will complete your girl wish-list.